The Goo Goo Dolls eleventh album is “Boxes” and it’s a superb return to form for the band. After trying their hand at making a ‘modern’ record in “Magnetic” left many of us Goo heads dismayed, “Boxes” switches John Rzeznik and Robby Takac’s focus to song craftsmanship and makes for a more traditional Goo Goo Dolls album.

“Over and Over” starts the album out with a classic track. The hook in the chorus is terrific and the entire song will speak to fans of older Goo Goo Dolls classics like “Big Machine”. From there, the album spins like a Goo Goo Dolls trip that we’re more used to taking. To me, the title track is a new personal favorite Goo Goo Dolls song for its lyrics and narrative, and “So Alive” is a really nice radio-friendly track from a band that resembles something from the early 2000s in the best way possible. Not every song is great here – but enough of them are to make this a return to form for the Goo Goo Dolls.

I love it when bands take risks on records, but “Magnetic” didn’t feel like the Goo Goo Dolls were taking risks, it felt like they were making a safe record the modern way. “Boxes” doesn’t do that. It caters to longtime fans of the band in the best way possible. If you love the band you’ll love this record and that’s more than what you could say for the last set.

The Goo Goo Dolls eleventh album is “Boxes” and it’s a superb return to form for the band. After trying their hand at making a ‘modern’ record in “Magnetic” left many of us Goo heads dismayed, “Boxes” switches John Rzeznik and Robby Takac’s focus to song craftsmanship and makes for a more traditional Goo Goo Dolls album.

“Over and Over” starts the album out with a classic track. The hook in the chorus is terrific and the entire song will speak to fans of older Goo Goo Dolls classics like “Big Machine”. From there, the album spins like a Goo Goo Dolls trip that we’re more used to taking. To me, the title track is a new personal favorite Goo Goo Dolls song for its lyrics and narrative, and “So Alive” is a really nice radio-friendly track from a band that resembles something from the early 2000s in the best way possible. Not every song is great here – but enough of them are to make this a return to form for the Goo Goo Dolls.

I love it when bands take risks on records, but “Magnetic” didn’t feel like the Goo Goo Dolls were taking risks, it felt like they were making a safe record the modern way. “Boxes” doesn’t do that. It caters to longtime fans of the band in the best way possible. If you love the band you’ll love this record and that’s more than what you could say for the last set.